US 7,621,890 B2Granted

Heat exchange catheter with multi-lumen tube having a fluid return passageway

AssigneeEndocare, Inc.

InventorsThach Duong, Jay J. Eum, Jenny C. Liu

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Abstract

The catheter includes a multi-lumen tube having an outflow portion and an accessory portion. The accessory portion is integrally formed within an interior volume of the outflow portion. The accessory portion has a cross-section smaller than the outflow portion. The outflow portion is offset from the accessory portion such that they are integrally joined. The space between these portions defines a fluid return passageway and the space within the accessory portion defines an accessory passageway. A flexible outer sleeve cooperates with the multi-lumen tube to form a fluid inlet passageway. During operation, an inlet flow of warming fluid flows through the fluid inlet passageway formed between the outer sleeve and the multi-lumen tube. The flow continues around a distal end of the outflow portion of the multi-lumen tube, thus becoming an outlet flow of the warming fluid which is directed through the fluid return passageway.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A heat exchange catheter for warming the urethra of a patient during ablative surgery, comprising:

a) an inflow housing assembly for receiving an inlet flow of warming fluid;
b) an outflow housing assembly for receiving an outlet flow of warming fluid;
c) a multi-lumen tube comprising an outflow portion and an accessory portion, said accessory portion being integrally formed within an interior volume of said outflow portion, said accessory portion having a cross-section smaller than said outflow portion, said outflow portion having a central axis being offset from a central axis of said accessory portion such that said outflow portion and said accessory portion are integrally joined, wherein the space between said outflow portion and said accessory portion defines a fluid return passageway and the space within said accessory portion defines an accessory passageway;
d) a flexible outer sleeve cooperating with said multi-lumen tube positioned therein to form a fluid inlet passageway;
and,
e) flow separation means for separating the inlet flow of warming fluid from said outlet flow of warming fluid,
wherein during operation said inlet flow of warming fluid flows from said inflow housing assembly, then through said fluid inlet passageway formed between said outer sleeve and said multi-lumen tube, the flow continuing around a distal end of said outflow portion of said multi-lumen tube, thus becoming said outlet flow of said warming fluid which is directed through said fluid return passageway, then through said outflow housing assembly.

4 more elements

A method for warming the urethra of a patient during ablative surgery, comprising the steps of:

a. inserting at least one ablative surgical device into a prostate region of the patient;
b. inserting a heat exchange catheter through the patient's urethra and at least to the bladder neck, said heat exchange catheter, comprising:
i. an inflow housing assembly for receiving an inlet flow of warming fluid;
ii. an outflow housing assembly for receiving an outlet flow of warming fluid;
iii. a multi-lumen tube comprising an outflow portion and an accessory portion, said accessory portion being integrally formed within an interior volume of said outflow portion, said accessory portion having a cross-section smaller than said outflow portion, said outflow portion having a central axis being offset from a central axis of said accessory portion such that said outflow portion and said accessory portion are integrally joined, wherein the space between said outflow portion and said accessory portion defines a fluid return passageway and the space within said accessory portion defines an accessory passageway;
iv. a flexible outer sleeve cooperating with said multi-lumen tube positioned therein to form a fluid inlet passageway;
and,
v. flow separation means for separating the inlet flow of warming fluid from said outlet flow of warming fluid;
and,
c. operating said heat exchange catheter to warm an outer surface thereof during operation of said at least one ablative surgical device,
wherein during operation said inlet flow of warming fluid flows from said inflow housing assembly, then through said fluid inlet passageway formed between said outer sleeve and said multi-lumen tube, the flow continuing around a distal end of said outflow portion of said multi-lumen tube, thus becoming said outlet flow of said warming fluid which is directed through said fluid return passageway, then through said outflow housing assembly;
and,
wherein said urethra is warmed by said outer surface of said heat exchange catheter to preserve living tissue thereof.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/417,407Filed 4 May 2006 · continuation in part
Priority: 9 Jun 2005
Published: US 2006/0282039 A114 Dec 2006
Granted: 24 Nov 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

A61F 7/12
Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body: devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
A61F 2007/126
Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities: for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
A61F
Filters implantable into blood vessels

Family

Application11/148,454Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 9 Jun 2005
US 2006/0282039 A1Pre-grant publication · published 14 Dec 2006
US 2007/0005050 A1Published application
US 7,621,889 B2Related patent
US 7,621,890 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.